Driving mechanism



DRIVING MECHANISM Original Filed April 21. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet /71Venf'or dPLava/e 192]. 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 444a? ##orney Sept. 18,1923.

J. P. LAVOIE DRIVING MECHANISM Original 'Filed April 21 Patented Sept.1%, i923.

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JOSEPH PIERRE LAVOIE, OF MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA.

DRIVING MECHANISM;

Original application filed April 21, 1921, Serial No. 463,172. Dividedand this application filed April 3,

a i '1922. Serial No. 549,142.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Josnrn PIERRE LAVOIE,

a British subject, residing at Montreal,

Quebec, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inDriving Mechanism, of which the following is a specification. v

The present invention relates to improvements in driving mechanisms,more particularlyin a rear axle drive of the type shown and described inmy prior application, Serial No. 463,172, filed April 21, 1921,

of which this case'is a division The invention essentially involvestheprovision of an improved cam construction, the cam being mounted on thecrank shaft or axle, or

analogous device, and shiftable laterally thereon to adjustits positionwith. respect to the valve rod or other element with which resides inthe provision of an extremely simple and efficient driving mechanismembodying acam constructionof the ab0ve-de scribed character.

The accompanying drawing shows one form which the invention may take inpractice, the invention being represented as ap plied to a rear axledrive, as in my above identified earlier case.

In the drawings 7 V V Figure 1 is a fragmented view, partly in plan andpartly. in horizontal section, showing the invention in use.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section through the Cfilns.

Referring more particularly to the draw ing, l indicates the crank shaftor analogous element on which the hereinafterdescribed cams are mounted.In the construction illustrated, the crank shaft or the like comprisestwo independent sections disposed in axial alinement. and there will beone of the cams for each of these sections. The shaft sections aresuitably supported and journaled in a central bearing 2 in which theirconfronting inner ends are received, and side bearings 3. The outer endsof the sections project slightly beyond these bearings 3 to permit theirconnection, in the present instance, with the axle sections 11 whereonthe wheels 12 are mounted; but it will be understood that the axlesect-ions and wheels may be 5 omitted when the invention is applied to ait is designed to coact. The invention also construction other than thatshown. The bearings 2 and 3 are supported in a rectangular skeletonframe 5.

Across the frame 5 is rigidly secured a transverse bar 6; and where thedrive is ap- 6O plied to an automobile axle, as in the arrangementillustrated, this transverse bar 6 will be provided with openings 7 forthe connecting rods 14 to project therethrough, and with openings 8 forthe valve rods 18. 6 The invention is preferably used in connection witha multi-cylinder engine 16 having he usual valves (not shown) associatedwith the individual cylinders, and the valve rods 18 are intended toactuate these valves in 7 the ordinary way through the intermediary ofthe cams. The pistons which work in the engine cylinders are likewiseomitted as not being involved in the invention, and their rods 15 arejoined to the connecting rods .14- previously mentioned, the latterbeing con nected to the shaft sections 1 in the ordinary manner. Theframe 5, when the invention is applied to an automobile, is, secured byany convenient means to the chassis and is enclosed in a suitable casingor housing 10 which also encloses the shaft sections and has suitableside extensions to enclose the axle sections, which latter may be lockedto the shaft sections in any desired way.

l l hen the supporting element 1 constitutes the crank shaft of anengine, as in the arrangement illustrated, each section will be offset;and thetwo offset portions will preferably be disposed at 180 to eachother, each section being turned by its respective connecting rod let,as previously stated. All of the foregoing parts are, or may be, of theusual construction or of any preferred construction. They are notessentially involved in the precise invention forming the subject of thepresent divisional case and which will now be described.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, each section of the crank shaft or othersupporting and driving element 1 carries a cam 20 which is movablehorizontally thereon by means of a forked shifter arm 24. In theconstruction illustrated there are of ourse two shaft sections, and eachsection has suitably keyed to it a sleeve 27 provided with a central.annular flange 28 which is recessed to form a circumferential groove 25.There is a shifter arm, therefore, for each sleeve, and the forkedportion thereof engages in the 11 corresponding groove 25. The two armsare rigidly mounted on horizontal rod 26 which is shii'table endwise toadjust the position oi"- the two sleeves 2? simultaneously to the sameextent and in the same direction. Any suitable device can be utilizedfor the purpose just stated.

The cams 20 as iilustrated, are preferably arranged in pairs, each pairmounted on one of the sleeves 2'? at opposite sides oi the annularflange 28. The cams themselves preterahly consist oi a pluratity ofindividual sections or n'ieinbers 29; (see Fig.

The cams are preferably utilized in conjunction with the valve ro is 18to operate the latter, and hence, the cylinder valves. Each valve rod isprovided at its end with a horizontal, or substantially horizontal, yoke19 which. straddles one of the cams and has its open end closed by avertical bar 21. The bar 21 is extended to provide a guide pin 22 whichis preferably formed integral therewith and which is slidahly engaged ina hole 22 formed transversely through the rear bar or frame 5. On eachyoke 19 and its bar 21 are provided two contact lugs 23 which areadapted to the cams 20 and to be operated thereby; and opposite eachguide pin 22 there is provided an arm 23 which extends through thecorresponding opening 8 in the cross bar 6 and in the end of which thevalve rod 1.8 is secured. By reason of this construction, the yoke willbe properly guided and tl e valve rod will always be centered.

In operation, the shaft 1 or the like is rotated-in the presentinstance, by means of the engine or motor-through the connecting rods1%; and this rotary movement is imparted to the cams 20' andistransmitted by the latter through the yolres 19 and the valve rods 18to the valves. Operation of the shifting rod 26 in, either directionwill move both pairs of cams simultaneously, through the medium of theshifting arms 24: and the grooved sleeves 27 with which said arms areengaged. itfiovemont of the cams will vary the timing of the operationsof the valves.

1 claim as my invention:

1.111 combination a rotary driving element; a sleeve keyed to saidelement to retate therewith and to slide laterally thereon, said sleevehaving a central, circumferential flange which is peripherally grooved;a pair of cams provided'onsaid sleeve, one cam on each side of saidflange, to be shitted laterally with the sleeve; a pair of reciprocatingelements each provided with a yoke which straddles the adjacent cam tobe operated thereby; and a shitting device engageable in the groove insaid flange to slide 7 said sleeve in either direction along said i ..l.x Ll b t v V dinin clement, mere y o vary e timing ofthe operation orthe parts actuated by said reciprocating elements. v

2. In combination, a'rotary driving element; a cam mounted to rotatewith said element and to slide laterally thereon; a re--ciprocatingelement having a yoke which straddles the cam and which isprovided with a bar to close the open end of the yoke; said yoke andcloserbar'having diametri 'eallyopposite contact lugs for operativeengagement by said cam; and a device for shii'tingthe ram with relationto said yoke,

to ary the timing of the'operation of the part actuated by thereciprocating element.

in combination, a rotary driving element; a skeleton frame wherein thedriving element is journaled, embodying end-members having bearingopenings for said driving element and :tront and rear side membershaving oppositely-located guide openings; a reciprocating elementextending through the guide opening in the front frame member and havinga yoke which straddles the cam and which is provided with a bar to closethe open rear end of the yoke; said yoke and closer bar havingdiametrically-opposite contact lugs arranged within the confines of theyoke for opera tive engagement by the cam, and said closer bar having a.rearwardly-extending pin which projects through the guide opening in therear frame member; and a device for shifting the cam with relation tosaid yoke, to vary the timing of the operation or the part actuated bythe reciprocating element. 7

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature.

JOSEPH PIERRE LAVOIE.

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